This site displays examples of historic uniform and kit that were worn by Members of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP),
the Royal North West Mounted Police (RNWMP) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Images displayed on this site are held by various private collections.
This site is not affiliated with, nor sanctioned by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or its wife.

Commissioner Beverley Busson (right)
was the first woman to head the RCMP (December 2006).

Busson joined the RCMP in 1974, as part of the first female troop through Depot.
She served in a variety of front-line operational positions that included general
duty, fraud investigation, drug enforcement and serious crimes investigations.
In 1999, Busson left the RCMP to head the OCABC - Organized Crime Agency of
British Columbia - and returned in 2000 as the Commanding Officer of British
Columbia. She was promoted to Deputy Commissioner for the Pacific Region in 2001,
while retaining her role as the Commanding Officer.

On 16 September 1974, an all-female troop of 32 recruits began training at Depot, the RCMP academy in Regina. The cadets ranged in age from 19 to 29 years. Their
scarlet uniforms (above) were a modified version of the classic uniform worn by their male counterparts, and featured a scarlet tunic with a white mock turtle-neck blouse
and a purple skirt. The kepi (top, left) replaced the standard forage cap. The S&W Model 10 revolver, bullets, and handcuffs were originally carried in a shoulder purse,
along with an issue service make-up compact and mirror. (The purse was soon discarded as it was considered to be dangerous for the female Members, making for an easy
grip for criminals and difficult for Members to draw their pistols). A clutch purse, shoes and white gloves were issued for formal wear (bottom,left).

The first Troop of female members graduated from Depot in 1975 and were sworn in as Constables. The photo above, shows an example of modern-day female
Members in patrol dress, with the standard utility belt in place of a purse for their sidearms and handcuffs. The photo below shows a female Member wearing the
formal scarlet Review Order uniform, which is no longer differentiated by gender, but is now the same for all Members.

Duty shoulder bag for female Members, with a removable leather insert in the middle of the purse which had a holster for the snub nosed version of the .38
calibre service revolver (left) and a carrier for a pair of hancuffs and 6 extra cartridges (right). The purse was available in left-handed and right-handed
versions. Most of the female Members who were issued the shoulder bag found them cumbersome and dangerous to use. The shoulder bags were withdrawn from
service shortly thereafter and replaced with a standard duty belt.

Female Members 1974 duty uniform with
blouse, skirt and purse - now obsolete.

Track suit worn by female recruits at Depot, circa 1974.

UNIFORMS & EQUIPMENT

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Gendarmerie royale du Canada

In 2014 the RCMP
commemorated 40 years of
female Regular Members in
the Force.
The first troop of 32 female
Regular Members arrived at
Depot - the RCMP Academy
on September 16, 1974, to
commence their training.